Abstract
Transverse myelitis is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disease often secondary to viral infection of the spinal cord; it frequently has vesico-sphynteric complications. Between January 2000 and December 2005 we performed urodynamic examination on 13 consecutive patients (7 females and 6 males) with previous diagnosis of transverse myelitis. Mean age was 54.5 years; transverse myelitis had been diagnosed a mean of 6.3 years earlier; etiology of myelitis was viral infection in 5 cases, autoimmune in 3 cases, insect bite in 1 case, unknown in 4 cases. The neurological sequelae included paraparesis in 3 cases and tetraparesis in 2 cases. Symptoms: dysuria 46%, slow stream 15%, pollakiuria 23%, urgency 30%; urge incontinence 38%, stress incontinence 15%. 3 patients performed 4 clean intermittent catheterisms (CIC), 2 patients 2 CICs. Eight patients had maximum cystometric capacity above 350 mL, the others had a mean capacity of 223 mL. Four patients showed no bladder sensitivity. Voluntary micturitional reflex was observed in 4 patients. Detrusor overactivity was diagnosed in 9 patients, 10 patients had mean residual post-micturition (RPM) of 218 mL, 2 patients showed detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, 2 patients were found to be obstructed at pressure-flow study. Urodynamic follow-up is indicated in these patients with or without neurological complications (possibility of detrusor overactivity, urinary retention, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia); the follow-up personalizes the diagnosis and therapy, and prevents complications.